Colorado Eagles forward, former University of Denver Pioneer Kyle Ostrow more than meets the eye

Newfound comfort has 26-year-old on career pace

By Cris Tiller Sports Writer

Posted:
12/10/2013 03:40:39 PM MST

Colorado Eagles forward Kyle Ostrow (19) drives the net against Alaska looking to score. Ostrow leads the Eagles with 12 goals in 21 games in the 2013-14 season. (Steve Stoner)

Take a quick look at Kyle Ostrow.

He isn't unusually small, but he's far from being the biggest guy on the ice. He weighs 185 pounds and is generously listed at 5-foot-10 in the media guide (5-8 in college). Nothing would overtly punch you in the face screaming "this guy's a hockey player" -- and a pretty dang good one.

But that's why a brief once-over never does somebody justice.

Truth is, Ostrow is the Colorado Eagles' leading goal-scorer with 12 through 21 games, and the team's third-highest in points. He is fourth in plus/minus rating at plus-nine and seems to be in the middle of play after play.

Looking at a map of where his goals come from might leave you a tad dizzy and trying to figure out how one guy can be in so many places. That's been the secret to his early success.

"He scores goals from every spot on the ice. He scores the pretty ones, he scores one-timers, he scores in tight, he buries rebounds, he tips pucks," Ostrow's linemate Trent Daavettila said. "I don't know if I've ever seen a guy get that many goals around the crease but still be able to score on breakaways and still be able to score on a shot from the outside. Most guys develop one really well and stick to it, where he seems to be very good at both.

"You got to pay a price out front to get as many goals as he does. It's just fun to watch. He wheels and deals and is courageous to get to that net."

Courageous and you might also want to add creative.

Advertisement

In a game against Las Vegas, Ostrow got denied charging down the slot, but recovered the puck in the left corner and did what he said he thought was the best option -- bounce it off the goalie's back. It worked. Five days later he tucked home a wrap-around on Alaska.

"I don't think I've ever scored a wrap-around in my life until this year. I just think I like to be creative, and I'll admit, I get a lot of good bounces for sure. Banking one off the goalie or something like that," he said. "I think it just comes along with the opportunities. I'm getting shots every game and I think when you're getting the opportunities I'm getting, you find ways to score."

Ostrow had a decorated career at the University of Denver, serving as the Pioneers' captain his senior year, but he's never really considered himself an offensive powerhouse.

"I've never been a goal scorer," Ostrow said. "I worked a lot on my shot this summer, like quick release and stuff like that, so I think that helped. So making the goalie freeze and stuff like that, I started realizing how goalies react."

So where is all this production coming from? Ostrow already has as many goals this season as he had the year before in less than half as many games. No. 1 is health.

Ostrow was playing well in his first year with the Eagles in 2012-13, but injuries took their toll and hampered his production on the ice. By the playoffs the potential of Ostrow as a scorer started to shine through with three goals and three assists in six games.

That brings us to No. 2 -- comfort.

At that point, he was put on the same line as Daavettila and the two clicked much like this season and his familiarity with the organization. Ostrow spent five games in the AHL with Portland, 59 in Chicago and two again in the AHL with Rochester before finding a home in Colorado.

"I think playing with Trent all the time has really helped because they compliment each other so much. They're both very intelligent players. They feed off of each other because they're smart guys that work hard," Eagles coach Chris Stewart said. "From game-to-game I believe his confidence is building. His confidence, not only on the ice putting the puck in the net, making plays, but his leadership ability. That really makes him feel like he's a part of this team and that he's contributing more than just on the ice.

"That's what he is. He's a captain. That's the type of player he is."

So take a quick look at him and then take another, because he might just surprise you.